Mastracchio’s West opens its doors in Millerstown

The new owners of Mastracchio’s West, formerly
Sutter’s Home Restaurant and Pub of Millerstown, were ready and eager to
welcome patrons on March 1, their opening day.

“All that was holding us up was the transfer of the liquor license,” said Matt Lower of Newport, one of the new owners.

Lower, along with Louis Mastracchio of
Newport and Jeremy Hockenberry of Halifax, formed a three-way
partnership to purchase the restaurant after former owners Dorann and
Don Sarver put it up for sale.

Mastracchio, who also owns and operates
Mastracchio’s Restaurant and Lounge along Juniata Parkway, Newport,
stirred Lower’s and Hockenberry’s interest in developing a partnership
when both of them worked at his restaurant as part-time bartenders.

Customers will find many of the same menu
items that were popular among Sutter’s patrons, including Wednesday wing
nights. The new owners added steaks, pasta and seafood items in order
to cater to the dinner crowd, as well as a broader selection of beer and
liquor.

Kimmie Yoder of Mifflin, a familiar face in Perry County, is working the grill.

“We have a new broiler that is great for steaks,” said Yoder.
She previously worked as a cook in other area restaurants and
spent several weeks training under Dorann before Sutter’s closed.

“Dorann shared her recipes with us,
including the sauces served on wing night,” said Yoder. “We’ll be
offering many of the same items, but patrons will be able to customize
their orders by choosing what types of seasonings and toppings they
want.”

To create a more relaxing atmosphere for
diners, Lower and Hockenberry moved the pool table from the rear to the
front of the restaurant, placing it closer to the bar. The extra space
allowed the addition of more dining tables.

“We wanted to create a family atmosphere, especially early in the evening,” said Hockenberry.

A new speaker system allows the owners to
control the volume of the music and create a more subdued atmosphere in
the dining area.

A security system also is being installed, as well as neon signs which will face traffic along Routes 22/322.

“We plan to maintain control, keeping the bar area quiet during dining hours,” said Lower.

While Lower and Hockenberry will be the
primary hands-on managers, Mastracchio’s background in the business has
enabled him to bring the benefits of his success to the venture.

“The predominate reason I decided to get into this was because of Lou’s experience and knowledge,” said Hockenberry.

Presently, both Lower and Hockenberry are
putting in 16-hour days behind the bar. Eventually, as they become more
comfortable with the daily routine, they plan to rotate bartending
duties.

Between them, they are capable of doing
their own maintenance and upkeep. Lower worked as an electrician and
Hockenberry worked in plumbing and heating.

“Prior to opening, people were calling
nonstop to ask us when we would be ready for business,” said Lower. Both
are hopeful the number of calls is a good sign of a thriving future.

“I don’t know what to expect,” said Lower.
“We just want to run a nice place where people can come to get a good
meal and a drink.”

Mastracchio’s West is open 10 a.m. to 2
a.m., Monday through Saturday, with a dinner special available on Friday
and Saturday evenings. Although reservations are not required, they are
recommended.

Unlike other establishments that tend to
shut down early if business is slow, they will not be closing their
doors or the kitchen until the 2 a.m. closing time.

Future plans may include hosting special
events, such as birthday and holiday parties on Sundays when they are
closed to the public. The restaurant and bar can seat up to 100 people.